LETTER | The recent crash involving a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck, which resulted in multiple fatalities, has caused a furore over the transport practices.

Experts have affirmed that the tragedy could have been prevented with stricter safety measures and higher vehicle standards.

When the tragedy is of a high magnitude, it draws the attention of the respective authorities and the whole nation. All kinds of accusations and statements will be issued to highlight the case.

Well, we hope that the investigations will be conducted immediately and swiftly to ascertain the cause for the tragedy, and punitive action be taken as soon as possible.

We hope it will not be another episode of being conveniently forgotten, after the dust has settled.

This brings to light the many cases and causes of road fatalities that occur because of the negligence on the part of the authorities concerned. Since it is not of a high magnitude, it is never highlighted.

Road bumps or "sleeping police officers" are plenty in many housing estates and service roads in the country, acting as a deterrent to speeding.

These speed bumps need to be maintained so that they serve their purpose and do not become another root cause of accidents.

Many speed bumps have lost their coat of paint, and as such are not visible as bumps. Instead of being a speed breaker, they could end up being the reason for fatal accidents to occur, especially for two-wheelers.

Zebra crossings are another that are hardly highlighted to the public. Tourists need to be warned that in Malaysia, the motorists care twi hoots about pedestrians using the zebra crossings.

They must be very careful when using the zebra crossings to avoid getting run-down one fine day and end up being crippled for life.

Then, there is the pothole issue in housing areas as well as along busy roads. They are a ticking time bomb of sorts to our motorcyclists, as they could end up being flung and being involved in a serious accident.

Even those driving cars could end up with a serious accident while trying to evade the pothole at the last moment.

Moving on to the highways, we often see shredded tyre debris strewn along it. These are objects that could pose a serious threat to the safety of motorists plying the highway while travelling at high speed.

Recent accidents involving commercial vehicles with rethreaded tyres have reignited debate over their safety on public roads.

That said, what I am driving at is that there are many serious and fatal accidents that go unreported or not highlighted due to their not being of high magnitude.

The authorities concerned should take it on themselves to see to it that the safety of everyone using the roads is of utmost importance and should be given top priority. They should sit down and seriously coordinate all road safety aspects for the well-being of all.

Remember, a life lost needlessly due to a road accident will lead to a lifetime of misery for the family.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.